the right track in pursuit of excellence in his chosen sport.

But although anxious to compete at the highest possible level the youngster is wary of making the jump to soon.

Said Hubbard: "I would have to find a professional team wiling to take me on.

And with a successful season behind me that is not an unlikely proposition.

But I feel I have age on my side and it may not be the right thing to jump in with both feet right now.

"I plan on taking it (cycling) as far as I can physically and mentally. Even if I don't succeed I would be happy knowing that I tried.'' No doubt fuelling this desire has been the race to which all cyclists aspire, the Tour de France, currently being run over on the continent. He said that he envisions being at the start some day, lining up against the world's best.

"That's where I want to be,'' said Hubbard. "To a cyclist that is the `tip-top'...the pinnacle.

"To ride the Tour de France would be a dream come true.'' Following the ill-fated French Championships just under two weeks ago, where he and several team-mates were forced to drop out, Hubbard has rebounded, placing high in two recent outings.

"It (French Championships) was a disaster,'' said the young cyclist. "We put in 18 hours in a minibus to get there and it killed us.

"It was a real blow to my ego when I couldn't turn the pedals. I was looking at my speedometer get slower and slower...and I couldn't do anything about it.'' Hubbard has since linked up part-time -- he is still a member of Jolly Club 88 -- with another Cote d'Azur team from nearby Monaco and this alliance has already produced favourable results. The 18-year-old announced his return to form last weekend as he placed 18th out of over 100 competitors in the 130-kilometre Souvenir Perimmond at Andon.

In that event he had the distinction of beating Jon Rond, one of two guest professionals, who are members of the internationally renowned Costoran squad.

Rond's team-mate Pichon claimed overall honours for the race, which had an average speed of 40 kilometres per hour (kph).

This past Wednesday and Thursday saw Hubbard compete on a one-kilometre oval track in the Nocturn Track Exhibition. He placed eighth -- in a supporting role for the Monaco team leader as Hubbard and his fellow team-mates worked to push him to a first-place finish in the 50-kilometre event.

"This was the first time I had ever raced on a track,'' said Hubbard. "The average speed was 43 kph the first night and 45 the second, but sometimes we reached up to 60 on the sprints, which was quite nerve-racking.'' Based on his performance Hubbard was approached by Monacco's team manager about staying on with the squad for next season. But Hubbard refused to be drawn into any hasty decisions regarding the matter.

The Bermudian will have to be content riding in several exhibition criteria over the summer to help raise funds for next season.

Fluent in French after successfully completing a French course at St. Joseph's College, Hubbard has one less barrier in front of him.

ELLIOTT HUBBARD -- Gradually increasing in confidence amongst the finest young riders in France.